One would think that a record-setting lap around the Nurburgring would immediately thrust a brand into supercar royalty, but outside of the enthusiast inner circle, few are familiar with the automaker called Radical.
The British manufacturer currently holds the first and second-fastest times around the famed German track for street-legal production vehicles, with a 6:48 time set by the SR8 LM and a 6:55 time set by the SR8. In third place sits the Porsche 918 Spyder with a time of 6:57.
Radical is clearly not satisfied with the top two positions on the Nurburgring lap board. To asses the situation, the company has announced a new car called the RXC Turbo 500, which is based of the RXC coupe (pictured).
The model, which will be showcased at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show, again features a version of Ford’s 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6. Instead of the measly 450 horsepower you get with the RXC coupe, though, it’s been upgraded to 530 hp and 481 pound-feet of torque by way of new turbos, a new intake manifold, a new fuel system, and other various enhancements.
The added power allows the car to sprint from 0 to 100 mph in just 6.8 seconds. It also gives the vehicle a power-to-weight ratio of over 462-hp per ton.
Will it be enough to overtake the SR8 LM’s mind-boggling achievement? We’ll find out in August, when Radical will pilot the RXC over 480 miles of public roads from its headquarters in Peterborough to the iconic circuit in Germany.
Once the car arrives, there will be three record runs: one with the Dunlop SportMaxx rubber used to make the journey, one with Dunlop Direzza D03G road tires, and one with Dunlop SP Sport slicks.
We’ll be watching the event closely, so stay tuned for updates.
